Surprising Myths about Adoption

November 28, 2013 7:10 am

There are many myths about both the fostering and adoption process that preclude families from getting involved. With more than 400,000 children in the foster care system, it's important to debunk these myths so that more people are ready to open their hearts and homes to children desperately seeking a secure future. Many children wait for years â€” sometimes for their entire childhoods â€” until they age out of foster care and enter into an uncertain future.

Myth #1: Foster children usually go back to their biological familyApproximately 50% of children in foster care do return to their biological family. However, of the children adopted from foster care last year, 54% were adopted by their foster family. Internationally, there are more than 153 million orphans who are missing at least one parent and 17,900,000 who have lost both parents.

Myth #2: If you're not married, you can't foster or adoptMost foster or adoption agencies do not discriminate based on marital status, age, income or sexual orientation. In fact, in 2011, 32% of children adopted from foster care entered a single parent household or the home of an unmarried couple. This figure includes children who were adopted by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender families (LGBT). You do not have to own your own home, be a stay-at-home mom, or be rich! Criteria may vary from state-to-state, but generally prospective parents need to be mature, stable and loving.

Myth #3: It is impossible to adopt an infant

More than 20,000 babies are available for adoption in the U.S. every year. This is as many or more than the number of international adoptions annually.

Myth #4: You can't adopt a child if you're in the militaryBoth military families stationed overseas and the U.S. can adopt children.

Myth #5: It is very expensive to adoptIf you adopt a child from foster care, it is free or at most, a minimal charge. If you adopt a special needs child, there are many different types of post-adoption assistance available medically and financially. Licensed private agency adoptions cost between $5,000-$40,000, independent adoptions cost between $8,000-$40,000, and facilitated or unlicensed adoptions cost between $5,000-$40,000. These costs are similar to the costs of delivering a baby!

Myth #6: It can take years to foster or adopt a child.The average time span to foster a child is one year. The average time to adopt a child is between one and two years.

Myth #7: Adopted children aren't as smart as biological childrenResearch shows that adoptees are as well-adjusted as their non-adopted peers. In fact, according to s a study by the Search Institute:

Adopted children score higher than their middle-class counterparts on indicators of school performance, social competency, optimism and volunteerism.

Adopted adolescents score higher than children of single parents on self-esteem, confidence in their own judgment, self-directedness, positive view of others and feelings of security within their families.

12% of children raised by both biological parents completed a grade, while this occurred in only 7% of adopted children.

However, studies have also proven that children raised in orphanages score 20 points lower in IQ than their adopted counterparts.

Myth #8: A biological parent can take a child backThe media has sensationalized this issue. If an adoption is done correctly and legally, a biological parent cannot take their child back. That is why it is so important to have competent legal advice.

Myth #9: Children who enter foster care are often delinquentsChildren enter foster care through no fault of their own. They are often abused or neglected and therefore removed from their birth parents.

Myth #10: Children in foster care all have special needsFirst of all, the federal government defines special needs very broadly. Special needs can apply to children who are simply older, come from a specific race, are part of a sibling group that wants to remain together, or has physical or mental handicaps. Special needs do not necessarily mean special education. While it is true that many foster children may have emotional issues, this can be said of many children whether biological or adopted.

Many people are interested in adopting, but never move forward because they lack the right information. It is important you get the facts versus the fiction if you are considering fostering or adopting a child. Adopting a child can be one of the most rewarding experiences you and your family will every experience and a joyful event for everyone involved.